Separator



`Fuly l 1924., 1,499,720

G. H. FRASER SEPARATOR l Original Filed Aug.` 23 1914 11 E e I o O p y o o m y 0 0 A Z 'j O O O O Z JZ n o 0 o e: V c1 I@ f S lfm TZ? Z// MEP f U W f 6k Z Z a A 5 la X l c ef al ll gy* 9, 6v! j "Z115, l gl Wy .7

f j: x 7! (955:: r y "D I?. 2f. l 555W! a m4425341 INVENTOR WITN EssEs: h/ v n Patented July li, i924.

UNET-ED STATES maar@ GEORGE HOLT FRASER, 0F BKLYN, lNEW Y0.

SEPARATQR.

Original application led August 28, 1914, Serial N o. 859,004. Divided and this application tiled June 20, 1919. Serial No. 307,417. Renewed April 3, i924.

To all whom'z't may concern Be it known that l, GEORGE Hom' FRASER, a citizen of the United States, residing at No. 226 Quincy Street, in the borough of Brooklyn, county of Kings, city and State of New York, United States of America, manufacturer, have invented certain new and useful improvements in S'eparators, being a division of my original application filed Au gust 28,- 1914, Serial Number 859,004, renewed December 18, 1918, Serial Number 267,402, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to apparatus for separating, sizing or classifying materials by means of a fluid current, and aims to provide certain-improvements therein,

Heretofore it has been common to separate fine from coarse material by an air current, by assing the material through a casing in w ich a revolving blower created a current for floating the iine material out and depositing it in a dust chamber, after which the current was returned to the inner side of the falling material and again passedI through it.

Attempts have been made to prevent coarse particles from being carried out with the iine, and to ensure a uniform separation.

This invention relates to separatorsin which classification of the product is aimed at, and the invention aims to vprovide improvements whereby the product may be selected with greater certainty, or the material may :be classified and separated into several grades.

The invention aims' to provide an improved separator which will more certainly ensure the absence of coarse material in the fine product, and which can be used to make several grades of material of different degrees of ineness if desired.

To this end in carrying out the preferred form oi the resent improvements, the pulverized or otllier material to be treated is fed into the separator in an annular descending stream through which the current is drawn outwardly to float out the desired fines, a blower is provided outwardly of this stream, and surrounding the descending stream of material annular selecting or classiying means are employed, Apreferably between lthe stream and the blower and outwardly of the blower. The descending material is preferably fed into the separator and dropped downwardly between reverse annular distributing and collecting rings, which alternately spread and concentrate it, as well as retard its speed of descent. @utwardly of these are concentric annular passages of varying elevation so as to give an annular wave eliect to the outiiowing current. Downwardly directed deflectors encircling these passages vary the direction of the current to produce wave effects therein, and the dust carried by the current is subjected to circuitous travel and centrifu al action as the current winds past these eectors, facilitating separation of the heavier particles from those light enough to float in the current despite its circuitous progress. Annular collecting troughs for the over-size partlcles thus separated from the outwardly traveling current, are provided between the distributing rings and the blower, and collecting and return passages are provided for this intermediate product. Preferably a series of such deflectors, passages and troughs is disposed between the feeding rings and the blower.

Beyond the selectors is a blower chamber from which through a contracting outlet ,the dust-laden current is projected at high speed downwardlyinto a large settling chamber, from which it is withdrawn in direction transverse to its introduction and at relatively low speed through a return passage, and again carried to within the falling mass of material, so that the same current 1s continuously used to float out the lines.

In the accompanyingdrawings, Fig. 1 is a vertical axial section of an air separator embodying the preferred form of thelpresent invention, and Fig. 2 isa fragmentary horizontal section of the foraminous wall, in connection with which this form will be described in detail.

Referring to the drawings, let A indicate a casing, B the driving mechanism, C the feed hopper, D the distributor, E the feed chamber, Fthe blower, G the dust chamber, H the return passage, I the coarse outlet, and J the fine outlet, all of which parts may be of any usual or suitable construction.

The casing A consists of a cylindrical body a, atop b, and a conical bottom c earryinga casting d in which are formed the coarse and ine outlets.

" The driving mechanism comprises a tubuinlet r coinciding vloer 0 of the separator.

lariishaft .K mounted in upper and lower` bearings e in a bracket f which supports .the separator. 'llhe shaft K has an upper shoulder g on which rests a bevel gear h. meshing with a vsimilar gear z' carried by a shaft j which is driven from fast and loose pulleys c and Z. The shaft K has a lower shoulder m resting on asplit collar a which is supported by a ball bearing o resting on the bracket f near the lowerend of the shaft.

'llhe shaft K extends into the casing A and is separably connected to the head lL of the blower, which it revolves.

The hopper Gis movabl and adjustably carried on a shelf p of the racket f, having a flange g resting on this shelf, and a feed with and discharging feed into an adjustable feed tube ll/l which is slidingly fitted to the hopper so that it can be raised or loweredtoward the distributor disk to regulate the speed of feed to the latter. 'llhe feed tube M passes freely through the drive tube so that the latter can rotate independently of it.

'llhe distributor l) is a revolving disk suspended from the fan head L, and is revolved with suicient rapidity to .throw o the material radially within the casing.

Surrounding the edge of the feedtube is a bame ring or deflector N which deflects the incoming feed downwardly in an annular stream surroundin the suction cham'- Beneath the disk D is an annular distributing ring l? which distributes outwardly any material falling from the disk and not striking the deilector N, ,Below ythese are a series of collecting rings Q and a series of inner distributing rings B arranged in succession so that the descending material fallin onto the ring Q slides ldown the latter and is concentrated and discharged therefrom onto the distribut- 1n ring B, from which it is outwardly deected and falls onto the next. ring Q', from which. it is againxcarried to the next ring B, by which it is again deflected and dis- Above this passage is a tributed. onto the lower'ring S, from which it falls to the coarse cone T. Above each ring Q is an annular upwardly extending current passage lU throu h which the current'traversin the falling material rises to pass over -t e adjacent collecting ring.

downwardly extending dedector ringV against which the rising current impinges, and by which it is dee'cted downwardly, so that it may pass outwardly under the lower edge thereof. Beneatheach deflector is an annular selecting trough or space W having a bottoni outlet for precipitating downwardly any coarse material deposited in the trough. 'llhe outer side of the trou h is formed by an annular deecting ring which reverses the descendin current from the deflector V and directs it upwardly over the top yedge of the meej-fao adjacent ring inner side of the blades `s of the blower 'E 'llhe series of blades opposite the outlet from each trough is isolated by a partition t from those opposite the adjacent outlet, so that variations of current through the dieren't outlets cannot equalize and their uniform suction is maintained opposite each.

'llhe blades of the blower are preferably in the form of a barrel or cylindrical fan, revolving around the distributing and selecting disks.

Preferably outwardly of these blades isan annular trough Z, the inner wall of which consists of a downwardly extending deflector Y and the outer wall of which consists ofy an upwardly extending deflector A1, which directs the outgoing current upwardly toward the top of the blowerchamber B1. Any coarse rent may be deposited by centrifugal action in the trough Z as the current undulates to pass over it, and only 'the material which is light enough to float over theupper edge of the outermost delector A1 will then be carried to the blower chamber. B1.

The air blown intothe chamber B1 descends therein, and diminishes in speed immediately below the outer dedector where the blower chamber has an enlarged portion C1, below which the chamber has a contracting outlet D1 toward which the current descends, so that dust escapes into the dust chamber Gr in a downward direction.. lmmediately inwardly of the annular passage C1 is the return passage Bl which where it communicates with the dust chamber is of relatively large area, and thro-ugh which the current passes inwardly in transverse direction to its entrance to the dust chamber, so that the changing of direction of the current and the diminution of its speed, both tend to facilitate the separation of the dust floating in it, which settles in the dust chamber.

The current flowing through the return passes over the upper open edge of the lower or tailings cone 'l and: back into the suction chamber, through which it again rises, and from which it passes outwardly through the selector passages.

The internal selecting troughs W discharge at the bottom onto a cone B1, and unless it is desired to separately collect material selected by them, they discharge this onto an upper receptacle or truncated cone B1 which receives the discharge from the outer trough 'Z also, and conducts the discharge from both inwardly and drops it through its lower open end across the return duct and into the lower receptacle or tailings cone '.ll". The coarse material from L the distributing cones descends into the tailings cone, and thus the returning current traverses inwardly through both the selector tailings and through the distributor tailmaterial remaining in the cur-' llO Vifieaveo ings, and is enabled to lioat from either any dust therein fine enough to float with this current at its then speed.

The tailings cone T is vertically adjust'- able to control the current speed, being in the construction shown, adjusted by the forked lever u operated by a screw v and wheel w. This cone slides vertically Within guides through a hub ring y which is carried by spokes a from the casing. The upper cones are positioned within the casing by adjustable spokes a1, and suspended from the top by adjustable tie-rods b1, and the intermediate deiiectors and rings are carried from the cone F1 by braces e1, c1, d1, f1, g1 and h1 respectively, so that the annular discharge spaces between them are continuous and uninterrupted, thus affording opportunity for uniform outlet of material without causing gaps through which excessive air current might vflow.

Cross beams j1 serve to sti'en the bracket f, and an outwardly fiaring apron or cone k1 reinforces the cone T and makes the dividing wall between the return chamber and dust chamber, and serves as the lower wall of the return passage. The apron 701 is an annular valve or damper which may be secured to and movable with the cone T, but is preferably sustained on this cone so. that it ,can move with or either can be moved from the other, and the apron is sustained by the spokes z when the cone T is moved below it, and by the cone when the latter is moved above the lowest 4position for the apron, both being guided by the vertical rods in the construction shown. Thus the apron may serve as a damper for varving length of the vertical passages between the filter troughs Z1 and the space through the return passa e H. The various rings or cones can be adiusted on their braces or otherwise to any relations desired so long as they are maintained concentric.

The various rings necessary to make the successive annular passages, the inner ste by step distribution and retardation, an the changes in direction of current, as well as its variations in speed as it travels outwardly, may be formed and supported in' any suitable way, according to the iineness desired for the final product, or the grade desired for the intermediate products which are selected out of the current by the Selecting troughs.

In operation material enters through the hopper C and descends through the feed tube M onto the disk D. The speed of kfeed is regulated by adjusting the tube M toward the disk.` The disk centriugally throws the material against the defiector N, from which it is deflected downwardly in an annular stream, so that the falling material resembles a tubular wall surrounding the suction chamber O. As this material descends it is collected by the upper ring Q, which retards its speed of descent and concentrates it on the ring R, which redistributes it on the material is successively acted on by a series The outtlowingl of independent currents. current passes through the falling material radially and approximately horizontally, and is then directed upwardly over the collecting cone through the passage U, which contracts the currentto accelerate its speed and increase its carrying power, so that it may carry over the cone any particles that it has floated from the falling material. Above the cone the direction of the passage U is suddenly changed by the deector V,

which directs the current downwardly toward the trough W, in which owing to the ldiameter of this trough being greater than that of the preceding part of the passage U the speed of the current changes, so that its dust carrying ability is aected. The direction of the current in the trough W is again sharply changed upwardly by the deflector X, and during this change of direction and accompanying variation of, speed, the outflowing current is caused to drop in\ the trough W any pieces too large to be carried further. As the current rises up still higher over the outer edge ofthe trough W it goes to the blower, through which it passes outward.

For many Ipurposes the trough W alone i will ei'ect suficient selection to give the desired fineness for the material settling in the dust chamber, but where an intermediate grade, or a further selection or greater fineness is desired, one or more additional. troughs are provided, preferably outwardly llt) from the'outer trough Z if used, the currentl rises toward the top b and curves downwardly through the chamber B1, into the larger portion C1 thereof, in whichit expands and becomes less agitated, and throughv which the fine material descends into the contractfloated outwardly by thecurrent in the succeeding passage, which while swift enough to float this dust, may not be swift enough to float larger particles. The particles selected out in the outer trough Z will descend and be collected by the cone F1. As shown, both these products will be brought together and escape through the annular space between the cones E1 and l5- and fall across the return current to the cone T. The escape passages between the cones for these selections withdrawal of the returned air throug some instances it is desirable to mfre com-v @EiL are preferably suihciently narrow to practically prevent escape of current through them lin either direction, and the lower cones E1 and F1 act substantially as a dam or partit-ion acrossthe lower edge of the blower, and should be arranged to substantially prevent direct return' of air and to cause the current to traverse through the dust chamber 4and the return passage to eect the desired operation.

The current will rise rapidly-through the chamber 0 and distribute 'itself outwardly` through the suction passages, continually v changing in direction and expanding and rising until it reaches the chamber lBl, llts rapid descent from the latter will carry the dust iloatin with it downward. As its direction is cianged toward the return passage` this will tend to throw lout the dust centrifugally, and the relatively slow speed through the wide outer entrance or part of the return passage H will prevent the returning current from Hoating back much dust, but while for many purposes the slow inward h tle passage H transversely of its direction of flow through the chamber G1 will suihcien-tly free the returned air from Heating dust, in

pletely eliminate floating dust in the returned current, and my invention providesI for this and comprises an im roved filter or dust collector G1 interme iate of the blower and return chambers and preferably surrounding the latter and enclosed by the formerand adapted to be traversed by the inwardly flowing air and tol` extract floating particles therefrom and conduct them across ,and below the path of the air current, and deliver them into the dust chamber or else.

where as desired in case another grade con# slstmg of this product is preferred.

Preferably this constitutes a 'foraminous' recense or interstitial wall intermediate of the blower and return chambers substantially cylindrically arranged around the latter and preferably stationary relatively to the adjustment thereof. Any suitable provision for this may be employed according to my invention, but ll preferably provide an improved filter G1 com rising one or more series H1 and T1, ofv grodve or trough-'shaped members. The outer series H1 is composed of hollow semi-cylindrical vertical troughs Z1' arranged side by side, lspaced in parallelism, with the hollow faces toward the approaching current, and spaced'apart to form current slots orpassages m1 intermediate of them, and the inneror .second series l1 1s composed of similar members Z1 similarly arranged at the lee side of the first series but staggered relatively thereto so as to bring their hollow sides opposite the air slots between the members of the preceding set. Any f numberof series may be used, but a plurality is preferable and two series are usually suficient for effectively filtering the fluid. These are preferably arranged vertically and the apron or extension k1 of the return cone T slides up within them as the cone is adjusted to regulate the flow i The filter members may be of suitable cross-section, better preferably semi-cylindrical, and as the current approaches them under the action of the suction within and the pressure without it forms dead spaces or voids opposite their facesv as it flows between their edges, permitting floating particles to contactwith the concaved face and slide down within the hollow side of the member through the comparative current void there existing.

The current' passing through the slots between the outer members is arrested by the hollow side of the succeeding inner mem ber, which forms a similar void or. dead space in which the particles may collect and descend while the'current is divided and dedected laterally to each side of this mem- .ber in ordento pass it and reach the return they will loe suitably arranged in the cur-Y rent passage to mtercept and filter out and settle the material to be extracted, their arrangement in this instance being" in concentric circular form because of the concenr` tric disposition of the annular suction and discharge passages.

Theframe f has a forlred front opening Z1, andthe top has a cover a1. fitting the space between the beams 11, and theheadlaV llO of the fan comprises an youter ring o1 bolted on the hub or head p1 which is separably connected to the tubular sha-ft K and to the ring o1 so vthat it can be separated and lifted outwardly and forwardly between the beams to remove the shaft and distributing disc without disturbing the other parts.

The adjustment of feed by the feed tube M, and the speed of drive, having been determined, subsequent adjustment to control the current speed as desired will be made by raising or lowering the tailings cone 'I to diminish or increase the return passage above it. The line dust will be removed through the outlet J and the coarse tailings through the outlet I, either continuously or otherwise as desired.

It will be seen that this invention provides improvements in apparatus for grading, sizing or selecting materials which can be variously7 and advantageously utilized for current separation, and it will be understood that the invention is not limited to particular details of construction, arrangementor operation set forth as constituting its preferred form, since it can be employed in whole or in part according to such modifcations as circumstances or the judgment of those skilled in the art may dictate, without departing Jfrom the spirit of the invention.

What I claim is:

1. In combination, a casing enclosing a chamber,a receptacle in said chamber having upper and lower openingsl communicating with said chamber, means for passing pulverulent material to be separated into said receptacle, means affording a way through said receptacle for the heavier particles of such material, means affording an endless current passage through and around said receptacle, means for circulating va fluid medium through said passage `to carry oil?- into said'chamber the lighter particles of such material, and annular substantiallyv vertically disposed foraminous lil-tering means across such passage and surrounding said wa for interceptin particles carried by suc medium, said ltering means being constructed and larranged to conduct the intercepted particles across and-below the ath of the medium and affording inwardly extending current passages for such medium.

2. In combination, a casing enclosing a chamber, a receptacle in said chamber having upper and lower openings communicating with said chamber, means for passing pulverulent material to be se arated into said receptacle, means a'or ing a way through said receptacle for the heavier particles of such material, means affording an endless current passage through and around said receptacle, means for circulating a fluid medium through said passage to carry of into said chamber the lighter. particles of ing pulverulent material to be separted into I said receptacle, means a-Hording a way through said receptacle for the heavier particles of such material, means ail'ording an endless current passage through and around f said receptacle, means for circulating a liuid medium through said passage to carry o i' into said chamber the lighter particles of such material, substantially vertically disposed foraminous filtering means across said passage and surrounding said wayfor interceptin particles carried by such medium, said fi tering means being constructed and arranged to conduct such intercepted articles across and below the ath of suc medium and affording inwar extending current passages for such medium, and means surrounding said way for varying the space through which such medium is permitted to flow. v

4. In combination, a casing enclosing a chamber, a receptacle in said chamber hav-N ing upper and lower openings communicating with said chamber, means for passing pulverulent material to be separated into said receptacle, means ai'ording a way through said receptacle for the heavier particles of such material, means lafl'ording an endless current passage through and around said receptacle, means for circulating a fluid medium. through said passage to carry oil' into said chamber .the lighter particles of such material, annular substantially vertically. disposed foraminous filtering means 'across such passage and surrounding said way for intercepting particles carried by suc medium, said ltering means being constructed and arranged to conduct the intercepted particles across and below the path of the medium and vail'ording inwardly extending current passages for such medium, and means within safid ilterin means for varying the space through which such me-v dium is pernutted to flow.

l5. In combination, a-casing enclosing a chamber, an upper receptacle within said casing having upper and lower 1openings communicating with said chamber, means ins,

for passing pulverulent material to be separated into said upper receptacle, a lower receptacle affording a way for the heavier particles oft such `material and having an open upper part affording communication between said chamber and said lower openmeans adording an endless current passage through and around said upper receptacle, means for circulating a Huid medium through said endless passage to carry od" into said chamber the lighter particles of such material, and substantially vertically disposed foraminous filtering means across said passage and around said way for intercepting particles'carried by such medium, said ltering means being constructed and arranged t-o conduct such intercepted particles across and below the path of such medium, and aording inwardly extending current passages for such medium.

6. ln combination, a casing enclosing a chamber, an upper receptacle within said casing having upper and lower openings communicating with said chamber, means for assing pulverulent material 4to be separate into said upper receptacle, a lower receptacle aording a way for the heavier particles of such material and having an open upper part aording communication between said chamber and said lower opening, means a'ording an endless current passage through and around said upper receptacle, means for circulating a fluid medium throu h said endless passage to carry od into sai chamber the lighter particles of such material, substantially vertically disposed toraminous tiltering means across said passage and around said way for intercepting` particles carried by such medium, said ltering means being constructed and neearac arranged .to conduct such'l intercepted particles across and below the path of such medium, and adording inwardly extendin current passages for such medium, an means concentric ol said lower receptacle for varying the space through which such medium is permitted to flow.

7. ln combination, a casing enclosing a chamber, an upper receptacle within said casing having upper and lower openings communicating with said chamber, means for passing pulverulent material to be separated into' said upper receptacle, a movable lower receptacle adordin a way below said upper receptacle for the eavier particles of such material and having an open upper part a'ording communication between saidI chamber and said lower opening, means ar"- fording an endless current passagethrough and around said upper receptacle, means for circulating a- Huid medium through said endless passage to carry od into said chamber the lighter particles of such material, and substantiallyl vertically disposed ltoraminous filtering means across said passage and around such way for intercepting particles carried by such medium,said filter ing-,means being constructed and arranged to conduct such intercepted particles across and below the path of such medium and attording horizontally 'extending current passages for such medium. y

' ln witness whereof, l have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

esonera' nor/r naasten;W

Vitnesses:

Eamonn d. FENN, Stevann G. l-lmmnm, 

